Vibrant sexuality and sexual self-knowledge are everyone's birth-right,but what passes for sex-education in our culture is limited toinformation about reproduction and abstinence education. Understandingmale sexual anatomy can put you more in touch with your sexuality ifyou are a guy and can tune the pitch of your touch if you are feelingup a guy. Men who want to experience multiple orgasms and to controltheir ejaculation teach themselves by tuning in to their bodies andstrengthening pelvic muscles. Also, knowing how your body works helpsyou figure out what toys will feel good; your body is a clearing houseof information about your own pleasure!

Anatomy of the Penis and Testicles

Although you can certainly have a boner, there is no "bone" of thepenis in humans (many animals do have phallic bony structures). Nor isthe penis composed of muscle, though there are muscles attached to thepenis at the base. Rather, the penis is composed of three cylinders ofspongy erectile tissue that have the capacity to expand to eight timestheir regular size when they are filled with blood, which is what makesan erection. Two of these cylinders run across the top part of thepenis and are called the corpus covernosa. One runs along the bottom ofpenis and surrounds the urethra and is called the corpus spongeosum,and is connected to the head of the penis, called the glans, where theurethral opening sits. The glans of the penis contains the highestconcentration of nerve endings in the penis, though it contains fewernerve endings than the clitoris, so it is comparatively less sensitive.Some of the deliciously sensitive areas of the penis are: the coronalridge, ridge around the head, the frenulum, and the raphe.

The underside of the ridge, where the head connects to the shaft iscalled the frenulum and is an extra sweet spot for tonguing orstroking. Along the bottom of the penis, running from the coronalridge, down the penis over the middle of the testicles to the anus is araised line or ridge called the raphe. Many men find the raphe is alsoan extra sensitive area of the shaft. The internal portion of thepenis, (aka the base, bulb, or root of the penis) ends behind thetesticles and can be felt by pressing the perineum, the area betweenthe testicles and anus, also affectionately referred to as the "t'aint"(because it ain't here nor there) and "the chin-rest." One of thereasons anal penetration feels so great for many men is it stimulatesthe root of the penis through the rectal wall.All men are born with a foreskin, a loose area of skin at the end ofthe penis that can be pulled back to expose the head. Many parents haveinfant foreskins removed by circumcision. Many Jews and Muslimscontinue to practice this genital modification for tradition andreligious reasons, and the practice has at times been routinelyperformed on new-borns in US hospitals. Many men who have beencircumcised as adults report that they have less sensitivity in theirglans after circumcision. There is an active movement opposed tocircumcision.

The testicles, the two grape-to-plum-sized bodies that produce spermand testosterone, hang behind the penis in the fleshy sac of scrotum.Testicles vary in size and are temperature sensitive; the scrotumretracts and descends depending on states of arousal and temperature.While they are sensitive to pain, many men enjoy the feeling ofsqueezing and pulling on their scrotums. Cock rings with "ballstretchers" are intended to provide extended squeezing of the balls andmany include a small hook for hanging weights or attaching a leash.

Erection

The process of erection involves both the sympathetic and autonomicnervous systems. In others words, sometimes a hard on just "happens"and at other times you can think yourself into a woody. The musclescontaining the vascular supply to the penis are regularly tense. Whenmen are aroused, these muscles relax, allowing a greater blood flowinto the penis. As the three cavernous bodies of the penis fill withblood, the surrounding membrane becomes taut and pushes the vesiclesclosed, trapping the blood in the penis. Medication (legal and illegal)and health issues that affect the circulatory system can impacterection. Viagra works by causing the relaxation of the muscles andvesicles. Poppers do too. But anxiety and smoking, for example, arevaso-inhibitors that cause restriction in the blood flow and thereforecan inhibit erection.

There are mechanical ways to keep blood in the penis to enhanceerection. Cock rings and penis pumps are the most common. Check out thescoop on these products and how they work in our Shopping Advice.

Ejaculation and Orgasm

Ejaculation and orgasm are the result of two different physiologicalprocesses. And, although most men experience them as one and the same,one can learn to separate these processes and have "dry orgasms" andmultiple orgasms.

As men get aroused they experience muscular tension building up inthe groin. This is the tensing of the PC muscles, the sling of musclesthat holds the sexual organs that rapidly contract during orgasm.Erectile tissue throughout the body becomes engorged. Blood rushes tonipples, lips and penis, and is accompanied by a feeling of warmth. Aspeople become aroused their sensitivity to stimulation increases whilesensitivity to pain reduces.

During arousal the testicles pull up closer to the body and spermtravel through the vas deferens tube (which is made of smooth muscle).As it passes the seminal vesicle and the prostate gland, seminal fluidis added to the mix. The prostate gland is donut shaped around theurethra. When the semen fills this area of the urethra, the urethraexpands and puts pressure on the prostate, which sends a message to thespinal cord. Up until this point, a guy can pull himself back from theedge of ejaculation. He can change his breathing, back off on thestimulation or change it. This point of no return is called"ejaculatory inevitability" aka. "I'm gonna come!" Once the spinalnerves receive the full prostate message, they fire and cause the PCmuscles, vas deferens, and prostate to contract and produce the spasmsof orgasms. Pressure on the prostate gland, which can be stimulatedthrough the anus, feels fabulous for many men.

Sperm actually only makes up about five percent of semen. The restcomes from the seminal vesicle, prostate gland and cowpers gland. Thealbumen, sugars, acids and enzymes produced by these glands make up themajority of ejaculate and make the sperm motile and enable them to liveoutside the body. Pre-come is produced by the cowpers gland, andfunctions to make the acidic urethra more hospitable for the semen. Itcan contain sperm and HIV, which means you can transmit HIV or get awoman pregnant even if you pull out before ejaculating or just rubgenitals without ejaculating.

Multiple Orgasms, "Dry Orgasms," and Delayed Ejaculation

Learning to control ejaculation and extending sex (and building formulti-orgasmic response) involves learning how to stop and back off,breathe, slow down, move around or change stimulation right before youhit that point. The book The Multi-Orgasmic Man is a great resourcewith lots of exercises to help men build greater body and sexualawareness and expand their sexual response.

The Prostate Gland and Anus

The anus offers a world of pleasure and sensation for everyone whohas one! For men, anal play offers extra delights because both the baseof the penis and the prostate gland are accessible. For some men,pressing the prostate itself can generate an orgasm, for others it justadds to the sensations. You can stimulate the prostate with a finger,dick, dildo or other toy through the anus. It's located about twoinches inside towards the belly. In fact its location is similar to theG-spot and is sometimes referred to as the Male G-spot. If you arediving for the prostate, remember the lube! Lubricant makes analpenetration much more pleasurable.

Common Questions

How do I learn to control my ejaculation and have multiple orgasms?Kegel exercises will help you strengthen the muscles that are involvedin orgasm. Squeeze the muscles you would to cut off the flow of urine.Do that repeatedly. Click here for a more detailed How to Exercise YourPC Muscles. Also, as men approach ejaculation their testicles rise.Some men find that a gentle downward tug on the testicles can helpdelay ejaculation.

Will a cock ring keep me harder longer? Possibly. For some men, cockrings create a firmer erection and delay ejaculation. But for others,dressing up their dicks and putting on a squeeze feels so good, theycome right away! It's not a "cure" for erectile difficulty, which can,in fact, be a medical issue that deserves a discussion with yourdoctor. Click here for more info on cock rings.